New Delhi, February 16 All-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai delivered a match-winning performance, taking four wickets before smashing an unbeaten 40 to guide Afghanistan to a five-wicket victory over the United Arab Emirates in their must-win T20 World Cup clash here on Monday.
The win opened Afghanistan's account in the tournament and kept their slim chances of qualifying for the Super Eight alive in Group D. It also confirmed South Africa's place in the next round, as they hold the top spot with six points, followed by New Zealand in second place and Afghanistan in third. The UAE slipped to fourth.
Omarzai led the bowling effort with excellent control of line and length, returning figures of 4 for 15 from his four overs as the UAE posted 160 for 9, built around Sohaib Khan's well-crafted 68 off 48 balls.
In reply, Afghanistan suffered early setbacks as in-form Rahmanullah Gurbaz (0) and Gulbadin Naib (13) were dismissed cheaply, leaving them at 41 for 2 at the end of the Powerplay.
Ibrahim Zadran steadied the innings with a composed 53 off 41 balls, hitting six boundaries and a six to anchor the chase. After his dismissal, Darwish Rasooli (33) and Omarzai combined to guide Afghanistan to victory, reaching 162 for 5 in 19.2 overs.
The chase briefly became tense when Zadran was caught by Muhammad Waseem off Muhammad Arfan, who also produced a fine delivery to remove Sediqullah Atal earlier.
With 61 needed from 36 balls, Rasooli counterattacked with two fours and a six, adding 43 runs off 26 deliveries with Omarzai before being bowled by Junaid Siddique.
Needing 17 off the final two overs, Omarzai shifted gears, sending Muhammad Jawadullah to the stands before an inside edge raced to the boundary, reducing the equation to four runs in the final over, which Afghanistan completed without further trouble.
Earlier, Sohaib stitched together a 57-ball 84-run partnership for the third wicket with Alishan Sharafu (40 off 29) to rebuild the innings after the early setbacks.
However, Afghanistan clawed back with a cluster of wickets in the middle overs, leaving the UAE at 121 for 6 in the 16th over.
Sohaib added another 31 runs with Haider Ali before Omarzai dismissed him in the 19th over, completing his fourth wicket.
Omarzai was rewarded for mixing his line and length as he dismissed last match's hero Aryansh Sharma for a duck.
Skipper Muhammad Waseem (10) tried to accelerate, hitting two boundaries before being trapped in front by Mujeeb Ur Rahman as the UAE slipped to 13 for 2.
UAE's batters handled the Afghan spinners effectively during the Powerplay, punishing loose deliveries. Sharafu struck two boundaries off Mujeeb as the UAE raced to 55 for 2, before sending Rashid Khan for a six to bring up the half-century stand.
However, Ziaur Rahman, who came in for left-arm quick Fazalhaq Farooqi, and spinner Noor Ahmad proved expensive.
Rahman conceded 16 runs in his opening over, with Sohaib striking three boundaries.
Noor too had a tough spell, being hit for two sixes by Sohaib over cover and mid-wicket as the UAE progressed to 93 for 2 in 10 overs.
Mujeeb then provided a timely breakthrough with Sharafu holing out to Ibrahim Zadran at long-off. Omarzai then dismissed Syed Haider (13) and induced an edge from Harshit Kaushik (0) in his third over, completing a fine bowling performance.
Sohaib brought up his half-century off 37 balls with a six, but Muhammad Arfan (0) fell while attempting a reverse hit, and Omarzai wrapped up Sohaib's resistance in the 19th over to complete a fine bowling performance.
